Lady Jerzy moved back into the room, leaving the cousins alone.
“Did that really happen?” Julia blinked several times, not believing that she had truly obtained a paid commission. Not just a commission but one from one of the most elite members of society. She had never dreamed such a thing would happen to her.
“It did. How wonderful!” Motherly concern filled Livie’s gray eyes as she looked at Julia more closely. “Are you well? Perhaps we should go home.” She patted Julia’s hand. “You don’t feel warm. I would check your forehead, but I don’t want anyone to expect anything is amiss.”
“I’m fine, really. It was just extremely hot in there.” Julia gave her cousin a small smile. “Are we fine?”
“Of course, we are. We’re always going to be fine. Remember that time you took my Shakespeare book and ripped several pages out of it?” Her eyebrows creased at the memory. “If we survived that, we can survive anything.”
“Goodness, I forgot about that. You would think it was something important like jewelry.” Julia shook her head, euphoric that they were amenable again.
Livie rolled her eyes. “Really Julia, that book is important to me.”
“Ah, I see we have mended things. I really couldn’t deal with another one of your rows. I’m very pleased,” Remington said as he joined them on the balcony.
“You know we rarely fight,” Julia said, grateful to be done fighting.
“It was nothing, really.” Livie smiled from Julia to her husband.
“Good. May I escort you both to dinner?” Remington offered his arm first to his wife and then to Julia, who slipped her arm around his.
They walked into the ballroom where both Mr. Edwards and Henry were waiting for them. Julia avoided eye contact with Henry. She didn’t want to think about what he said on the dance floor or what Livie said on the balcony. Their statements haunted her. She just wished they were true.
St. Clara would release her from their engagement, but could she ever allow herself to forgive Henry? And what of St. Clara’s situation? He must marry, or he would lose everything. She couldn’t leave him in that situation. He had been too good of a friend.
“Of course, Karrington would have two beautiful ladies on his arm,” Mr. Edwards jested as he offered Julia his arm. “May I escort you to dinner, Lady Julia?”
“I would be delighted, Mr. Edwards.” She smiled, her mood immediately lifted. He had a calming presence, one she found she enjoyed being around.
Over the past few weeks, she found Mr. Edwards to be a pure delight. She could see why Henry was friends with him and why the children adored him so. Mr. Edwards seemed to charm everyone he came into contact with, even her when she allowed. She was ashamed for not getting to know him better because of who he was acquainted with. However, his amiable relationship with her family and his kind words to her made her desire to remedy that.
When they entered the large dining area, all eyes were on them. Several crystal chandeliers, lit with hundreds of candles, illuminated the room. A splendid table that looked large enough to fit all of London society was in the center of the room. Large bouquets of fresh flowers, fine china, and goblets filled with wine bedazzled the table.
Mr. Edwards escorted Julia to her assigned seat—beside Henry. She looked around, confused at the arrangement. Surely there had been a mistake.
Julia looked up to find Lady Jerzy smirking at her. It was not a mistake at all. The lady obviously set her beside her former fiancé as a form of entertainment.
“Is all well, Lady Julia?” Lady Jerzy asked, the corners of her mouth curving deviously.
“Yes, quite well, my lady.” Julia forced a smile but wanted to throw her napkin across the table at the woman. Such behavior would be very Old Julia-like and the woman had just offered her a commission.
“Really, I thought you were ill earlier, the way you fled to the balcony with the duchess,” Lady Florentia spat out.
“Lady Julia was escorting me out for some much needed fresh air,” Livie answered before Julia had a chance to.
Julia decided the best thing for her to do was to pretend like Lady Florentia did not exist, an easy task since she couldn’t stand the other woman. Beside her, Henry tried several times to engage her in conversation, but she preferred to speak with Lady Evanston about the daily activities of her six grandchildren.
Henry sat so close his leg kept brushing against Julia’s skirts. Despite her best efforts, Julia struggled to concentrate on anything but that night in the library.
She knew she had to speak with St. Clara about her indiscretion. Julia would assure him that it wouldn’t happen again, especially when they were married. She would be a faithful wife to him.
The thought of being St. Clara’s wife filled her with unhappiness and caused a tremble to run through her. He was her friend, and she enjoyed him greatly, loved him even, but like a brother.
Julia gave a quick shake of her head to rid her mind of the unwanted thought. Livie was right. She did not want to be with St. Clara, but she couldn’t be with Henry.
“Lord Heartford,” Lady Jameson, the Hempstead’s neighbor, began. “My niece, Miss Madelene Bloomsbury, is an excellent dancer, you should consider dancing with her at the next ball. I’m sure she will be in attendance.”
Julia gazed from the woman to Henry, who looked as if he was choking on something.
